Eleanor Holland, DirectorDSCC Small Business [email protected](800) 262-3272(614) 692-3541
Agenda• DLA Background• Socio-Economic Programs
– Set Asides and Goals• How to Get Started • Business Systems Modernization• BSM DIBBS (DLA Internet Bid Board)
– Solicitations and Quoting• Drawings and Technical Data • Alternate Offers• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)• Automated Best Value System (ABVS)• Where Do I Go For More Help• Conclusion
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY MISSION
Provide Products and Logistics Services Worldwide to America’s Armed Forces…
PRODUCTS:Consumable Spare PartsFuelEnergyFoodMedicalApparelConstruction
DLA’s Business
SERVICES:AcquisitionE-BusinessLog Info & Document AutomationWarehousing & DistributionReutilization & DisposalNational Stockpile
CustomersDeployable UnitsFixed BasesShips at seaAlliesOther Federal Agencies
FAANASACoast GuardTSA
83% of All Military Needs Met by DLA100% of Military Needs for Energy, Food, Medical & Apparel Met by DLA
83% of All Military Needs Met by DLA100% of Military Needs for Energy, Food, Medical & Apparel Met by DLA
5.2 MILLION
ITEMS
The DLA EnterpriseScope of Business
• 54,000 Requisitions/Day• 8,200 Contracts/Day• #50 Fortune 500 – Above Intel • #2 in Top 50 Distribution Warehouses• 26 Distribution Depots• 5.2 Million Items – eight supply chains• 1411 Weapon Systems Supported• $14.6B Annual Reutilizations/Disposals
• 20,804 Civilians• 513 Active Duty Military• 754 Reserve Military• Located in 48 States/28 Countries
Foreign Military Sales• Sales: $1.18B • Shipments: 535K• Supporting 124 Nations
FY01 Sales/Services: $17BFY02 Sales/Services: $21.5BFY03 Sales/Services: $25BFY04 Sales/Services: $28B FY05 Sales/Services: $31.8B FY06 Projection: $34.3B• Land/Maritime: $3.3B• Aviation: $3.6B• Troop Support: $12.9B• Energy: $11.0B• Distribution: $2.5B • Other: $1.0B• ~95% of Services’ repair parts• 100% of Services’ subsistence,
fuels, medical, clothing & textile, construction & barrier materiel
People
DLA SUPPLY CENTERS
DSCC - COLUMBUS 3990 EAST BROAD STREET COLUMBUS, OH 43213-1152TEL: (614) 692-3541 or 1-800-262-3272Web Site: www.dscc.dla.mil
DSCR - RICHMOND8000 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWYRICHMOND, VA 23297-5124TEL: (804) 279-3287 or 1-800-227-3603Web Site: www.dscr.dla.mil
DSCP - PHILADELPHIA700 ROBBINS AVENUEPHILADELPHIA, PA 19111-5092TEL: (215) 737-2321 or 1-800-831-1110Web Site: www.dscp.dla.mil
DESC - DEFENSE ENERGY SUPPORT CENTER8725 JOHN KINGMAN DRIVEFT. BELVOIR, VA 22060-6222TEL: (703) 767-9400 or (800) 523-2601Web Site: www.desc.dla.mil
AVIATION- Engine Components
- Air Frames
- Landing Gear
- Flight Safety Equip
- Propeller Systems
MAPS- Maps- Charts - GraphsFor all DoD Activities
INDUSTRIAL - Lathes- Milling Machines- Heavy Industrial
Machinery
ENVIRONMENTAL- Re-refined Oil- Ozone Depleting
Substances• Hazardous Minimization
Program
Business UnitsDefense Supply Center Richmond
Aviation Supply Chain Other Supply Chains
LANDDETACHMENT
MARITIME DETACHMENT
Business UnitsDefense Supply Center Philadelphia
Troop Support Lead Center
CLOTHING / TEXTILES- Combat uniforms/tents- Body armor/field equip- Individual chem/bio
protective suit- All Service uniforms
SUBSISTENCE- Operational Rations (Meals Ready-
to-Eat & Group Rations)- Food Service & Field Feeding Equip- Dining Facility Support- Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
MEDICAL- Diagnostic Imaging Equip- MRI Equipment- Surgical & Dental Supplies- Pharmaceuticals- Optical Products- Laboratory Items
CONSTRUCTION & EQUIP- Facilities Maintenance- Diving, Safety & Rescue Equip- Fire & Emergency Services- Wood Products- Metals- Barrier Material
LANDDETACHMENT
MARITIME DETACHMENT
AEROSPACEDETACHMENT
DSCC Supply Chains
Land Maritime
n Vehicles Componentsn Gun Partsn Tiresn Transmission Equipn Water Purification Equip
n Valvesn Fluid Handlingn Pipes, Hoses & Fittingsn Pumpsn Motorsn Electronicsn Fiber Optics
AEROSPACEDETACHMENT
Defense Supply Center Columbus
• More than 1.6 million different items managed• Nearly $3 billion in annual awards• One of the largest suppliers of weapons system
spare parts in the world• 24,000 Military and Civilian Customers • 10,000 Contractors • Approximately 2,300 Employees• 6.5M Orders Annually• Installation opened in 1918
DSCC’s Customer Profile
Coast Guard(0.4%)$9.3M
FMS(11.2%)$250.2M
Marines(3.9%)$87.4M
Navy(31.9%)$712.4M
Other DoD(1.0%)$23.1M
Air Force(22.8%)$509.2M
Civilian Agencies(0.4%)$9.7M
Army(28.4%)$635.5M
By Sales Dollars
FMS(3.1%)
141,960Marines(3.5%)
159,024
Coast Guard(0.5%)24,433
Army(55.6%)
2,525,471
Civilian Agencies(0.8%)34,499
Other DoD(1.2%)54,687
Navy(20.0%)906,584
Air Force(15.3%)692,356
By Requisitions
Socio-Economic Programs
FY05 GOALS
FY05ACTUALS
FY06 GOALS
SMALL BUSINESS 58.2% 61.4% 60.0%
HUBZone 3.0%* 3.9% 3.0%*SMALL DISADVANTAGED 3.7% 3.9% 4.1%
WOMAN OWNED 5.9% 9.8% 6.9%SERVICE DISABLED 3.0%* .40% 3.0%*
8(a) (SDB Subset) .50% .64% .72%
DSCC SMALL BUSINESS GOALS
* Congressionally mandated goal
SBA’s Key Internet Addresses
• SBA’s Home Page: www.sba.gov
• Government Contracting: www.sba.gov/GC
• 8(a) Business Development: www.sba.gov/8abd
• HUBZone: www.sba.gov/hubzone
BEFORE YOU CAN SELL TO DLA
1. Get a D-U-N-S number - Dun & Bradstreet (1-800-333-0505)
• Takes about 10 minutes - free of charge• Or register for your DUNS number at:
https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html2. Register in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR)
system at: http://www.ccr.gov• If Small, register on CCR’s Dynamic Small Business
Database site - a search engine for buyers, a marketing tool for small firms and a "link" to procurement opportunities
http://dsbs.sba.gov/dsbs/dsp_dsbs.cfm3. Be able to receive electronic funds transfers
Solicitation Types
• Request for Quotations - Under $100,000• Most common type at DSCC - Average award is >$4,000• Generally quoted directly on our web site• 70% are awarded without human intervention
• Request For Proposals (RFPs) - over $100,000• Solicitation must be filled in by hand and returned to
DSCC by a specific time and date• Proposals may be negotiated
• Invitation for Bids (IFBs) - over $100,000• Sealed Bid process• No negotiations
How DLA Purchases Parts
1. Fully Competitive• Bidsets and Drawings Available
2. Approved CAGE Code & Part Number• Manufacturer(s) already approved• Approved source(s) for dealers and
distributors
3. Qualified Products Lists (QPLs)
Over the past five years DLA has
DLA Transformation
crafted a robust transformation strategy that is now being deployed
through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and initiatives
Business Systems Modernization is one of the main initiatives
BSMBusiness Systems Modernization:
• DLA’s Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system
• Re-engineered materiel planning, order fulfillment,procurement & financial management processes
• BSM Release 1 - “went live” 7/02 with 170,000 items• Full scale deployment began 11/03 • All of DLA’s 5.2 million items and the personnel who
manage them are on track to be operating exclusively in BSM 1 October 2006
What is BSM DIBBS?
DLA BSM Internet Bid Board (DIBBS) allows you to:• View solicitations and submit quotes • View RFPs • View Long Term Contracts & EMALL Opportunities • Access award information• View provisions, clauses and packaging specs• View price history• View drawings and technical data• Access the Automated Best Value System (ABVS)
(your Performance Score used in award decisions)
Selling to DLA under BSM
Until October ’06 - Multiple websites
• DLA BSM DIBBS: https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil/
• Until all items migrate, non-BSM opportunities may be found at:
• DSCP and DSCR: PROCUREMENT GATEWAYhttp://progate.daps.dla.mil/home/
• DSCC: ORIGINAL VERSION OF DIBBS http://dibbs.dscc.dla.mil/
DSCC’S HOMEPAGEwww.dscc.dla.mil
SELLING TO DSCC
RFQ DATABASE SEARCH
• NATIONAL STOCK NUMBER• FEDERAL SUPPLY CLASS• SOLICITATION NUMBER• PURCHASE REQUEST NUMBER• NOMENCLATURE• APPROVED PART NUMBER• APPROVED CAGE CODE
Solicitations - FSC 2510 Vehicle Cab, Body & Frame Structural Components
SOLICITATION ICONS
Click and quote on a solicitation (log in first)
Drawing available - click to access
Specification or standard available for download (click to access)Set-aside for small business participation only
Mil-SpecQPL Military Specification / Quality Products List item
Solicitation may not include all pertinent data (click to view)Fast Award candidate - estimated to be $2,500 or less - may be awarded as soon as 4 days after issue date
Bid With ExceptionThe following are considered exceptions: • Quoting alternate product or otherwise taking exception to the item
description;• Exceptions to packaging requirements; RFID requirements are not “in
the clear” on the solicitations - but to DDSP (New Cumberland, PA) and DDSJ (Tracy, CA), it is required;
• Exceptions to FOB point;• Quoting destination inspection on a solicitation requiring origin
inspection;• Exceptions to required quantity;• On automated solicitations, quoting a quantity variance that is outside
the range specified in the solicitation
Note: Quoting Bid With Exception will preclude receiving an automated award
Bid Without ExceptionThe following are not considered exceptions:• Quoting delivery different than the required delivery days;• Quoting origin inspection on solicitations requiring destination
inspection; • Quoting a superseding or previously approved part or correction to a
CAGE/part number on an item described by manufacturers CAGE and part number; and,
• Quoting a used, reconditioned, remanufactured, new/unused Govt. surplus, foreign, or hazardous end item
Supplies Offered ExampleIAW Drawings, Specs,
or Standards
Supplies Offered ExampleCAGE & Part Numbers
Error Messages are your Friends
“HOOD PANEL” SEARCH
“HOOD PANEL” RESULTS
“TITANIUM” SEARCH
“TITANIUM” RESULTS
OPEN A DRAWING
Before Opening a Drawing for the 1st time,
Download a Viewer
Restricted DrawingsRegistered Data
Custodians
Restricted Drawings
Joint U.S./Canadian Certification Program (JCP)
Why is JCP Certification Required?
• To establish eligibility of U.S. or Canadian contractors to receive technical data under the control of, or in the possession of DoD or the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND)
• To limit access to military critical data to Data Custodians and their employees or eligible persons designated by the registrant to act on their behalf
How to get a JCP Certification Number
• Go to https://dbi.dscc.dla.mil/Docs/• Complete DD Form 2345 • Submit the completed form and copies of
the following:
• State or Provincial License,• Incorporation Certificate,• Sales Tax Identification Form, or • Other documentation which verifies
the legitimacy of your company
Restricted DrawingsJoint U.S./Canadian Certification Program (JCP)
Click “Documents”
Complete
DD Form 2345
JCPPamphlet
Learn More about JCP& Download DD 2345
ControlProcedures
Mail DD2345 to
You will receive yourJCP Number in a few weeks
Come Back into DIBBSRegister as a Data Custodian (1 Time)
Now You Are Eligible toObtain Restricted Drawings
Searching for Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
(over $100,000)
RFP Search
Solicitations over $100,000
Search for RFPsBy Search Category or View All
Complete and submit to be notified of changes tothe RFP
If you just want to look at the RFP, check “NO”and submit
Return by Date & Time is Critical
Alternate OffersWhat Do I Do to Become an Approved Source for
a code and part numbered item? Submit an Alternate Offer/Source Approval Request
For "T" and "U" solicitations: • Offers of alternate products will not normally be evaluated
for the current procurement For DSCC solicitations, submit requests for evaluation for future procurements to:
Defense Supply Center ColumbusMr. Lee LeonAlternate Offer Monitor, DSCC-PCA3990 East Broad StreetColumbus, OH 43216-5000
• For other than “T” or “U” solicitations, send the alternate offer package to the buyer
WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED
1. Legible and complete copies of all drawings, specifications, or other data clearly describing the characteristics and features of the product being offered
2. Data must cover design, materials, performance, function, interchangeability, inspection and or testing criteria and other characteristics of the offered product.
3. The offeror must furnish drawings and other data covering the design, materials, etc. of the exact product cited. This enables the evaluator to determine that the Offerors’ product is equal to the product cited in the solicitation.
4. You MUST provide the National Stock Number (NSN) & the PROPOSED UNIT PRICE (with price breaks)
Evaluation Costs & Savings Calculations
Evaluation Costs:$200 - Local Evaluation
$1,500 per Engineering Support Activity (ESA)
$1,700 - $6,200 minimum and maximum amount of savings required if the package must be forwarded to the ESA(s) for further evaluation
GOVERNMENT AVERAGE PRICE
- PROPOSED UNIT PRICE= PER UNIT DOLLAR SAVINGSX ANNUAL DEMAND= SAVINGS CALCULATION
Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID)
What is RFID?
• Technology that uses radio-frequency waves to transfer data between a reader & a movable item to identify, categorize, track...
• RFID is fast, reliable, and does not require physical sight or contact between reader and the tagged item
RFID Enabled Label
… and a chip attached to it
… on a substratee.g. a plastic
foil ...
an antenna,printed, etched or stamped ...
A paper labelwith RFID inside
WHY RFID?
DoD’s Intent for RFID Implementation
• Provide asset visibility - needed by warriors
• Optimize supply chain by using tags to capture information at each node of the supply chain
• Suppliers will ultimately be responsible to ensure readability of tags
How Does It Operate?
• RFID tags are affixed to objects and stored information written to an embedded chip in the tag
• Tags can be read remotely when they detect a radio signal from a reader over a range of distances
• Readers either send tag information over the network to computer systems for processing or display it to the end user
RFID Tags
• Tags carry data and can be attached to:• Items• Shipping Containers• Pallet Loads• Transport containers – Seavans
• 2 categories of RFID tags today: • Active Tags• Passive tags
Active Tags
• Powered by an internal battery• Battery life ~ 5 years
• Can hold large amount of data • (128k programmable)
• Read/write—tag data can be rewritten or modified
• Longer read range – up to 300’
• Greater cost ($100’s) & size (brick)
Passive Tags
• Obtain operating power from the reader • Limited amount of data can be encoded
(64 or 96 bit)• Programmed with a unique set of data that
cannot be modified or can be Read/Write• Lightweight, smaller, less expensive, long
lifetime• Shorter read ranges ( about 10’)
DOD RFID Policy:Passive Tags
• Phase 1 ( 2005) - Passive RFID tags on cases & pallets shipped to DoD depots at:
• DD San Joaquin (W62G2T or SW3224) • DD Susquehanna (W25G1U or SW3124) – Class I - Subsistence (Packaged Operational Rations (POR))
– Class II - Clothing, individual equipment, tents, organizational tool kits, hand tools, and administrative, housekeeping supplies & equip
– Class VI - Personal demand items: snack foods, beverages, cigarettes, soap, toothpaste, writing materiel, cameras, & batteries
– Class IX - Repair parts and components including kits, assemblies and subassemblies, reparable and consumable items required for maintenance support of all equipment, excluding medical-peculiar repair parts
DOD RFID Policy:Passive Tags
• Phase 2 (2006) - Passive RFID tags on cases and pallets shipped to specified DoD receiving points, including all the Defense Distribution Depots, for the following items:
– Phase 1 Items
– Class IIIP – Packaged petroleum fuels, lubricants, hydraulic and insulating oils, preservatives, liquid and gas, bulk chemical products, coolants, de-icer and antifreeze compounds, components and additives of petroleum and chemical products, and coal
– Class IV - Construction materiel including installed equipment and all fortification and barrier materiel
– Class VIII - Medical Materials (except Pharmaceuticals)
DOD RFID Policy:Passive Tags
• Phase 3 (2007) - Passive RFID tags on all cases and pallets shipped to any DoD location for all commodities* and unit packs for items that require a Unique Identification (UID)
* Except items excluded under the bulk commodities definition
DOD RFID Policy:Passive Tags
• Passive RFID technology is evolving…
• EPCglobal published standards • Class 0 – read only• Class 1, V1 – write once, read many (worm)• Standards developed for “Generation 2”
• DoD goal is to migrate to use of Gen 2 once it is readily available
• DoD will accept the EPC data format or contractors can use the DoD tag data construct
• DoD guidance: http://www.dodrfid.org
Advance Shipment Notice• Contract information
• Contract Number• Shipment Number• Prime Contractor• Shipment Date
• Product description• Line Item Number• National Stock Number• Item Description• Quantity
• RFID Tag Data• RFID Tag Number• Line Item Number• Quantity
WIDE AREA WORKFLOW
(WAWF) Information and Registration at:
https://wawf.eb.mil/
RFID Tag Placement Passive RFID tags may be integrated into shipping label
RFID Tags on Pallet LoadsRFID tags should be affixed at a location where there is minimum risk of damage, easy access to the bar code symbols and the highest potential for successful RFID tag interrogation
MIL-STD-129P Change 3• Performance requirements for passive RFID tags:
• Portal - For palletized unit load tags and the tags on the shipping containers within the palletized load, the read distance shall be at least 3 meters at 10 miles per hour
• Conveyor – For individual shipping containers, the read distance shall be at least 1 meter at 600 feet per minute
• Tag data specifications and formats are referenced to the DoD Supplier’s Information Guide at: www.dodrfid.org
Supplier Implementation Strategies
• Use third party logistics provider• Purchase programmed tags and apply to cases/pallets• Purchase equipment (i.e. printer or reader) to program
tags• Incorporate a full RFID infrastructure throughout
business process
Best course of action - Depends on the amount of business with DoD and
other customers requiring RFID
Supplier Implementation• Purchase programmed tags and apply
to cases/pallets (Slap and ship)• Vendor must certify tag data and
readability• ASN must be transmitted via WAWF• Labels may contain the MIL-STD-129
markings (MSL) or they may be blank
• Recommended for businesses that are not shipping a significant cases to DoD per year and do not intend to utilize RFID technology in house
Supplier Implementation
• Purchase equipment (i.e. printer or reader) to program tags– Vendors offer bundled
packages (software & hardware) to meet the requirements
– May be able to upgrade existing hardware (label printers) to program RFID tags
Supplier Implementation• Incorporate a full RFID infrastructure
throughout business process • Implement full blown RFID from inbound
receiving to outbound shipment• Obtain or modify existing software and
hardware to apply RFID technology
RFID in the Field Today
DOD RFID Websitehttp://www.acq.osd.mil/log/rfid/index.html or http://www.dodrfid.org
DOD WAWF Websitehttps://wawf.eb.mil
EPCglobal Websitehttp://www.epcglobalinc.org
DoD RFID Contracts Website
http://www.eis.army.mil/ait/contracts/bpas/bpas.asp
Bye-Bye Bar Codes? – NO!
• Traditional bar codes – Linear (UPC, 3 of 9)• Will remain the dominant auto ID technology in most
mainstream applications for the foreseeable future• Lowest cost, broadest applicability, huge infrastructure
investment• 2D bar codes – Data Matrix, PDF417
• Adopted for value added applications• Portable data files, supplementary retail coding etc.
• RFID – Active, Passive and Semi Passive• Will be increasingly adopted where non-line of sight,
read/write, and multiple detection requirements are needed
Best Value Contracting
DON’T
DROP
THE
BALL
Automated Best Value System (ABVS)
What is ABVS?• Vendors’ past performance (delivery & quality)• Translates into a numeric score• Displayed for the buyers
How does my ABVS score affect me?• Buyers uses the score as an additional evaluation
factor when making best value award decisions
IN OTHER WORDS – Poor Performance Today may mean lost awards in the future!
ABVS SCORE BREAKDOWN
PERCENT ON TIME60%
AVERAGE DAYS LATE40%
DELIVERY50%
PRODUCT80%
PACKAGING20%
QUALITY50%
• Scores range from 0-100• 999.9 indicates no performance history • 24 months of data, excludes most recent 60 days • Delinquent
• 1 Day after CDD• If Undelivered or partially delivered• Includes contractor caused cancellations & Terminations
for Default
ABVS Points of Contact
DSCCPat McCreay phone (614) 692-3383
fax (614) [email protected]
DSCRBrenda Allen phone (804) 279-5377
fax (804) [email protected]
DSCPTim Atwell phone (215)737-7844
fax (215)[email protected]
Accessing ABVS from DSCC Homepage
GET YOUR SCORE
Your ABVS Score
All DLA ABVS Data and Scores Accessed through DSCR’s Page
Help is Available
Where Do I Go For More Help and
Information on Doing Business with DLA?
DSCC SMALL BUSINESS TEAM1-800-262-3272 OR
COMMERCIAL 614-692-3541
NAMEemail address PROGRAM
PHONE614-692-
XXXX
Eleanor [email protected]
Director, DSCC Small Business Office
Small Disadvantaged Business and 8(a) Programs
Outreach and Woman OwnedSDB/8(a) Program Support
HUBZone
Javits/Wagner/O’Day Workshops(Blind & Severely Handicapped)
Service Disabled Veteran Owned
- 3735
Will [email protected] - 1288
Vikki [email protected] - 4864
Rebecca [email protected] - 3510
Tom [email protected] - 1494
Dwight [email protected] - 7935
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)
What are PTACs???Government funded local resources available across the country providing assistance in marketing your products and services to Federal, state and local governments
PTAC Goals:• Help small businesses be competitive• Explain the complexities of Government procurement• Encourage economic development through job
retention and creation• Build strong contractors through targeted training
and one-on-one assistance
http://www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm
DLA Packaging Support
Defense Supply Center Columbus (614) 692-3345, 4227, or 3757 Fax: (614) 692-1901 E-mail: [email protected]
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia E-mail: [email protected]
Defense Supply Center Richmond (804) 279-3899 Fax: (804) 279-4420 E-mail: [email protected]
Monthly Free TrainingDEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER COLUMBUS
Doing Business With DSCC:Getting StartedAssistance in your area (PTACs)Small Business ProgramsQuoting on DLA BSM DIBBSHands-on computer lab timeAlternate Offers – how to get approvedUnderstanding quality requirementsPackaging – what the government wantsHow to get Drawings and Bid-setsDoD EMall – Be on-line for our CustomersPayment ProcessingFreedom of Information (FOIA) Meet Buyers and Technicians one-on-one
TTraining
KKnowledge
OOpportunitiesFree Seminars
JULY 18-19, 2006AUGUST 15-16, 2006SEPTEMBER 19-20, 2006OCTOBER 17-18, 2006NOVEMBER 14-15, 2006DECEMBER NO TKO
Seating is limited – make reservation on-line at:http://www.dscc.dla.mil/News/events/tko/
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! PLAN TO ATTEND!
• Exceptional Speakers• Extensive Training• Exhibit Your Products and Capabilities
Information available at:http://www.ndia.org/
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS• TIMELY OR EARLY DELIVERY• FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE• RESPONSIBLE ADHERENCE TO CONTRACT
TERMS• IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS
WHY????LIVES OF OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN DEPEND ON IT!
Thank you for your Time and Attention
Leaving you with a Final Thought on how important
your contribution will be . . . .
Let’s work together to bring them home safely!